Bachie Spearheading Spartan Surge

Bachie Spearheading Spartan Surge

Bachie Spearheading Spartan Surge

Michigan State’s Joe Bachie continues to lead a defense that may be among the nation’s most underrated. College football’s #1 ranked defense against the run speaks for itself. The pass defense has progressed every week and has Michigan State in a position to achieve big things over the remainder of the season. Joe Bachie is right, smack in the middle of everything.

Anyone that doesn’t recognize just how impactful Joe Bachie has been for the Spartans all season long is probably someone who thinks that #24 Michigan State (6-3, 4-2) is faced with some sort of existential dilemma in preparation for the huge matchup with Ohio State this Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

Joe Bachie has been a monster and a beast each and every week.

He was all over the field this past Saturday during Michigan State’s 24-3 dominating win over Maryland at College Park.

And it’s no surprise that Bachie was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the week.

His numbers don’t ever truly tell the whole story – but this week’s are eye popping.

Against the Terps, Bachie registered 7 tackles.

Two of his tackles went for losses.

Bachie forced 3 fumbles.

Let’s repeat that – Bachie forced 3 fumbles.

Bachie recovered one of those fumbles.

He was – as he always is – a menace all game long.

Through 9 games, Bachie has a total of 68 tackles.

For anyone wondering – that officially qualifies as “a lot” of tackles.

He has 34 solo tackles on the season.

He has 6.5 tackles for losses on the season.

He had an amazingly athletic interception that was made in the waning moments of Michigan State’s 38-31 win over #14 Utah State in the season opener that looks like a pretty good win all these weeks later.

He is on the football field at all times.

His commitment, focus, intensity, and overall leadership are impossible to quantify.

He has never come up with any contrived slogans that get splashed on to ridiculous t-shirts.

He does not look or act or come across like Foghorn Leghorn ever.

He goes out and plays football like a tough, hard nosed, linebacker who isn’t out to get as many pictures taken of him with a long, flowing mane that changes colors from time to time.

He simply dominates and leads and does things the right way.

He’s done all of this ever since he set foot on Michigan State’s campus and he’s only getting better with each week.

This week, Bachie will continue to lead the entire defensive unit as it prepares to go up against the 8-1, 5-1 Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium.

Bachie doesn’t need to be reminded of how things went against Ohio State a year ago in Columbus.

Bachie also is acutely aware of the opportunities he and his teammates still have this season.

A victory over Ohio State this Saturday would do far more than get the Spartans to 7-3, 5-2.

Bachie knows that a win this Saturday makes it more than possible for this team to get to 10 wins on the season – which would be the seventh time in the last nine years that Michigan State would achieve double-digit wins.

Bachie earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors this week because he did what he always does when he’s out on the field.

A victory over the Buckeyes would mean much more than the award – and Bachie wouldn’t even think about creating a t-shirt to commemorate the win.